#Letakan iklan disini
Football Jun 09, 2026

Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa: Unai Emery leads Villa to Europa League final glory in Istanbul

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa: Unai Emery leads Villa to Europa League final glory in Istanbul

Aston Villa are Europa League champions after thrashing Freiburg 3-0 in the final in Istanbul.

The king of the competition Unai Emery has his hands on the trophy for a fifth time and this triumph was celebrated wildly by Villa fans - both in the Besiktas Stadium and back at home.

Those supporters had waited 44 years to see their side in another European final and the beautiful, brilliant first-half goals from Youri Tielemans and Emi Buendia were befitting of the occasion.

Tielemans' volley from Morgan Rogers' cross into the box after a short corner was a stunner, arrowed in with textbook technique. Buendia's bending effort from the edge of the box just moments later was sweet, too, curling into the top corner.

Freiburg didn't know what had hit them. There had barely been a chance in the preceding 41 minutes. When Morgan Rogers slid in a Buendia cross at the near post on 58 minutes it was all but over. A masterclass from Villa and Emery. The Bundesliga side blown away.

There should have been more goals. Amadou Onana headed John McGinn's corner against the back post and then Buendia clipped the ball into the side-netting when Tielemans' perfect pass played him in.

But Villa's dominance was never in doubt after they hit the front. Captain John McGinn ran the midfield and Freiburg rarely threatened. Even when Johan Manzambi did meet a close-range header, Emi Martinez matched it with a stunning stop before the offside flag went up.

What a performance and what a season for Aston Villa. A European trophy to go with a guaranteed top-five finish in the Premier League which has already secured Champions League football for next year.

Emery is crowned again in the competition he has mastered - and his meticulous transformation of Aston Villa over the past three-and-a-half years gloriously demonstrated on the big stage.

Now his Villans join the legends of the 1982 European Cup in the club's history books.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery to TNT Sports:

"It's really something fantastic.

"We played in a very serious way this year. So, so focused. I was telling them, 'we need desire in this competition and to show on the pitch that you are the protagonist'. And they did it.

"This final is the confirmation of how we are progressing."

Aston Villa captain John McGinn to TNT Sports:

"I can't believe it. This club was close to being in a right bad way seven years ago. Nassef Sawiris bought the club and had one remit: to get the club back to the Premier League and then try to compete at the levels it had before.

"Tonight was everything we have built coming together.

"The pride I felt at 3-0 with 10 minutes to go, thinking 'we're European champions' is something I can't even describe.

"It's the proudest night of my career so far. I'm going to try to enjoy it. I like to party sometimes. I'll try to take it easy and soak it all in.

"I watched my mates win trophies - Andy Robertson, Jack Grealish - so it's my turn tonight. Maybe not the big one they've won but to me it's so, so special. I'll treasure every minute."

Morgan Rogers speaking to TNT Sports:

"It's a great moment for the club. We'll go down in history.

"The manager has been banging on about me getting in the box and getting easier goals, so I'm happy to get a toe on that one.

"I'm tired but not that tired. It's all worth it."

Ollie Watkins speaking to TNT Sports:

"To perform like that was unbelievable. We controlled the game and punished them.

"I've watched many finals and set-pieces can be so crucial. Up until the goal it was very cagey, but we worked an unbelievable set-piece, fair play to [set-piece coach] Austin MacPhee.

"This is what you dream of. Unai was really calm in the build-up - sometimes he's a bit anxious in the league. That set the tone."

Aston Villa take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on the final day of the Premier League season, live on Your Site.

Tags:

football report

Share this article

Related Posts

Arsenal target move for Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi after Cherries star helped seal Premier League title win - Paper Talk

Arsenal target move for Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi after Cherries star helped seal Premier League title win - Paper Talk

The top stories and transfer rumours from Thursday's newspapers...Bournemouth star Eli Kroupi Junior is emerging as a transfer target for Arsenal afte...

West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen is wanted by Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd - Paper Talk

West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen is wanted by Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd - Paper Talk

The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday's newspapers...Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are interested in England forward Jarrod B...

Arsenal win the Premier League title: 5am trip to the Emirates and lots of bottles - how the players celebrated victory

Arsenal win the Premier League title: 5am trip to the Emirates and lots of bottles - how the players celebrated victory

A trip to the Emirates at 5am and lots of bottles - Arsenal players celebrated long into the night after their Premier League title win was confirmed....

Premier League kits 26/27 plus more football home, away and third strips from Nike, Adidas, Puma and others

Premier League kits 26/27 plus more football home, away and third strips from Nike, Adidas, Puma and others

Bartley appointed at StenhousemuirMarvin Bartley has been appointed manager of newly promoted Championship side Stenhousemuir.The 39-year-old resigned...

Pep Guardiola: Man City boss expected to leave at end of season

Pep Guardiola: Man City boss expected to leave at end of season

Pep Guardiola is going to leave Manchester City after their final Premier League game of the season on Sunday, sources have told Your Site News.There...

Celtic Park pitch invasion: Hearts slam ‘premature ending’ to title decider that set ‘troubling precedent’

Celtic Park pitch invasion: Hearts slam ‘premature ending’ to title decider that set ‘troubling precedent’

Hearts have written to the Scottish FA and SPFL questioning the "troubling precedent" set by the "premature end" to last Saturday's Scottish Premiersh...